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5,502: A monumental number
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Posted on Oct 20 2008
Supporters of the White House’s proposal to establish a national marine monument in the ocean waters around the CNMI’s northern islands on Monday unveiled the results of about five months worth of collecting signatures on a petition in favor of the plan.
Since June, members of the Friends of the Monument—a community organization founded by local people backing the proposal—have pounded pavement day and night to collect the signatures. With White House staff now on Saipan to host a public forum on the issue Monday night, the group chose to release the final tally of its effort, 5,502 signatures.
Leaders of the group said the number exceeds their expectations and refutes claims by many of the plan’s opponents that the proposal lacks support among the public.
“It was so easy to collect the signatures because at least nine out of 10 of the people here support it,” said Ken Kramer, one member of the group. “It is overwhelming.”
Among the signatures on the petition is that of Saipan’s mayor, Juan Tudela.
Ignacio Cabrera, the group’s chairman, said members plan to present the petition to White House staff during their visit on Saipan and that more signatures are on the way because the petition drive will continue.
“This is for my son, my son’s kids, for the future,” Cabrera said, adding that the proposal has found widespread support among young people in the CNMI, many of whom signed the petition.
“Young people are pretty smart,” he said.
Cabrera also refuted claims that the Friends of the Monument are funded through the Pew Charitable Trust, the leading organization that is lobbying for the monument’s creation.
“As a friend of the monument, I can say that Pew has not done anything to support us financially,” he said, adding that the group is composed of volunteers. “I want to make that clear.”
Opponents of the plan, meanwhile, have previously said they are also collecting signatures for a petition against it but could not be reached for comment on the issue at press time.
